Alexander Graham Bell would not recognize today’s phone system with our cell phones, wireless transmission towers and the texting craze, but Thomas Edison would be completely familiar with our electricity grid. Well, that is about to change. Through an effort coordinated by the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability in the Department of Energy, the nation’s utilities will create a Smart Grid by adding a layer of communications to our electric system and to our plug devices. Change of this magnitude requires research into new methods of control and communications, new technologies to incorporate the research findings and new behaviors for consumers to take advantage of the benefits.

Advanced Energy is participating in this transformation in several ways. We are host to Duke Energy’s EnVision Center , a movie-style studio that offers a glimpse at the smart home in the year 2015. We are members of NCSU’s FREEDM Center that will research the communication requirements for the “internet of the electric grid.” We are also demonstrating how these technologies will result in energy savings through several utility-funded projects.

So we invite everyone to come hear a presentation on Smart Grid and tour the EnVision Center on Monday, February 9th beginning at 6 pm and ending at 8 pm. Our offices are at 909 Capability Drive, Suite 2100 on NC State’s Centennial Campus. We will order deli sandwiches for supper and the cost is $10 for members, free for students. We only have room for 25 attendees so register early (you must sign up before February 6th).